Bottling plant with an information-adding station configured to add information on the outer surface of a bottle or container

ABSTRACT

A bottling plant with an information-adding station configured to add information on the outer surface of a bottle or container. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA

This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/EP2008/007043, filed on Aug. 28, 2008, whichclaims priority from Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No.10 2007 050 793.6, filed on Oct. 19, 2007, and from Federal Republic ofGermany Patent Application No. 10 2007 050 490.1, filed on Oct. 19,2007. International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008/007043 was pendingas of the filing date of this application. The United States was anelected state in International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008/007043.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present application relates to a bottling plant with aninformation-adding station configured to add information on the outersurface of a bottle or container.

2. Background Information

Background information is for informational purposes only and does notnecessarily admit that subsequently mentioned information andpublications are prior art.

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beveragefilling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine, whichis often a rotary filling machine, with a plurality of beverage fillingpositions, each beverage filling position having a beverage fillingdevice for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. Thefilling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce apredetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into theinterior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquidbeverage filling material.

Some beverage bottling plants may possibly comprise filling arrangementsthat receive a liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annularvessel, in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored underpressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel may also be connected to at leastone external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by aconduit or supply line. In some circumstances it may even be possiblethat a beverage bottling plant has two external supply reservoirs, eachof which may be configured to store either the same liquid beverageproduct or different products. These reservoirs could possibly beconnected to the toroidal or annular vessel by corresponding supplylines, conduits, or other arrangements. It is also possible that theexternal supply reservoirs could be in the form of simple storage tanks,or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers.

A wide variety of types of filling elements are used in filling machinesin beverage bottling or container filling plants for dispensing a liquidproduct into bottles, cans or similar containers, including but notlimited to filling processes that are carried out under counterpressurefor the bottling of carbonated beverages. The apparatus designed tointroduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling materialfurther comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the fillingof the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling materialreaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provideda conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example,from an inspecting machine to the filling machine.

After a filling process has been completed, the filled beverage bottlesare transported or conveyed to a closing machine, which is often arotary closing machine. A revolving or rotary machine comprises a rotor,which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. There mayfurther be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filledbottles from the filling machine to the closing station. A transportingor conveying arrangement can utilize transport star wheels as well aslinear conveyors. A closing machine closes bottles by applying aclosure, such as a screw-top cap or a bottle cork, to a correspondingbottle mouth. Closed bottles are then usually conveyed to an informationadding arrangement, wherein information, such as a product name or amanufacturer's information or logo, is applied to a bottle. A closingstation and information adding arrangement may be connected by acorresponding conveyer arrangement. Bottles are then sorted and packagedfor shipment out of the plant.

Many beverage bottling plants may also possibly comprise a rinsingarrangement or rinsing station to which new, non-return and/or evenreturn bottles are fed, prior to being filled, by a conveyerarrangement, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linearconveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement orrinsing station, in the direction of travel, rinsed bottles are thentransported to the beverage filling machine by a second conveyerarrangement that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels thatintroduce bottles into the beverage filling machine.

It is a further possibility that a beverage bottling plant for fillingbottles with a liquid beverage filling material can be controlled by acentral control arrangement, which could be, for example, a computerizedcontrol system that monitors and controls the operation of the variousstations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.

In some apparatuses for printing bottles or similar containers, thecontainer region to be printed is located directly adjacent orsubstantially adjacent one or more print heads during the printingprocess. Furthermore, in some apparatuses, where the printing iseffected by the container region to be printed rolling off a printingblock colored with printing ink, the printing block being provided at arotating printing drum or at a rotating belt.

In some apparatuses for printing containers, the containers, which arelocated in receiving means of a transport wheel that is rotatinglydriven about a horizontal machine axis, are moved past a printingposition; at the printing position each container, by way of itscontainer region to be printed, rolls off one of many transfer surfaceseach provided with a negative print image. These are formed at astar-shaped circumference of a print wheel that is also drivenrotatingly about a horizontal axis. To create the negative print images,a plurality of print heads are provided at the periphery of the printwheel, the print heads being designed in the manner of an ink jet printhead and by way of each of which a color set of a multi-colored printimage is created.

High quality printing of containers, i.e. high qualitative printing, forexample also printing that is sharp and distortion-free and/or with zerodefects, is possible using these apparatuses if the containers to beprinted have the smallest possible dimensional tolerances and have no,or as little as possible, unevenness at their region to be printed.

OBJECT OR OBJECTS

An object of the present application is to provide an apparatus thatmakes it possible to print bottles or similar containers with highquality and with a high output (number of printed containers per unit oftime).

SUMMARY

This object is achieved with an apparatus for printing bottles orsimilar containers on an outer surface of a container, the apparatushaving at least one printing station, the containers being moved pastthe print region of the printing station on a container conveyor, and atleast one print head and a transfer element, which forms at least onetransfer surface, is provided at an auxiliary conveyor and is moved byway of the auxiliary conveyor at least between the at least one printhead and the print region for applying a negative print image onto theat least one transfer surface for transferring the negative print imageonto a container region rolling off the transfer surface. The transfersurface is resilient or springy.

The embodiment according to the present application makes it possible,among other things, to print even bottles or similar containers thathave relatively large dimensional tolerances and/or unevenness, directlyon the outer surface of the container with high quality and with a highoutput.

Further developments, possible embodiments, and applicationpossibilities of the present application are produced from the followingdescription of possible embodiments and from the figures. In this case,described and/or graphically represented features, individually per seor in arbitrary combination, in principle, are objects of the presentapplication.

The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed further herein below. When the word “invention” or “embodimentof the invention” is used in this specification, the word “invention” or“embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments ofthe invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of theinvention”. By stating “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”, theApplicant does not in any way admit that the present application doesnot include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinctinvention, and maintains that this application may include more than onepatentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant herebyasserts that the disclosure of this application may include more thanone invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention,that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respectto the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application is described below by way of the figures ofpossible embodiments, in which, in detail:

FIG. 1 shows a very simplified representation of a top view of aprinting station for printing bottles and similar containers on acircular or substantially circular outer surface of a container,together with bottles moved past the printing station on a containerconveyor;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified representation in perspective of the transferdrum of the printing station in FIG. 1 with the transfer elements,together with a bottle standing upright on a container carrier;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged representation of a section through a transferelement of the printing station in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation and top view of an apparatus forprinting bottles or similar containers on circular outer surfaces ofcontainers by way of two printing stations;

FIG. 5 shows a simplified representation and top view of anotherembodiment of the printing station according to the present applicationwhich has a plurality of transfer elements provided on an auxiliaryconveyor and is driven in a rotating manner with the auxiliary conveyor;and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective representation of one of the transferelements in FIG. 5 together with a bottle standing upright on acontainer carrier.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing the print heads of a printingunit which is realized in the form of electrostatic print heads togetherwith the film material to be printed;

FIG. 8 shows schematically the main components of one possibleembodiment example of a system for filling containers, for example, abeverage bottling plant for filling bottles or containers with at leastone liquid beverage, in accordance with at least one possibleembodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilized at leastone aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 9 shows schematically the main components of a possible system forfilling bottles or containers including one possible embodiment of thepresent application; and

FIG. 10 shows schematically the main components of a possible system forfilling bottles or container including one possible embodiment of thepresent application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS

The printing station, given the general reference 1 in FIGS. 1 through3, is used for printing bottles 2 directly on a, for example, circularor substantially circular region of the outer surface of a bottle, forexample on a bottle belly 2.1, as represented, or also on a bottle neck2.2.

The printing station 1 comprises, amongst other things, a transfer drum3 that is driven in a rotating manner about its vertical axis in thedirection of the arrow A, a plurality of transfer elements 4 beingoffset about the drum axis at regular angular spacings on the circularcircumferential surface of the transfer drum, i.e. in the embodimentrepresented a total of three transfer elements 4 being provided in onepossible embodiment so as to be replaceable. As is shown in FIG. 3, eachtransfer element 4 is multi-layered, i.e. it is produced, amongst otherthings, from one adhesive layer 5 that lies at the outside, withreference to the axis of the transfer drum 3, and is made from amaterial suitable for a transfer print, from one rubber elasticintermediate layer 6 that connects to the adhesive layer 5, for examplemade from a harder rubber or an elastomeric plastics material, as wellas from one carrier layer 7 that connects to the intermediate layer 6and is made from a metallic material or a plastics material, by means ofwhich the respective transfer element 4 is secured to the circumferenceof the transfer drum 3. Each transfer element 4, on its outside ortransfer surface 4.1 that is formed by the adhesive layer 5, is curvedin a part circular cylindrical manner about the axis of the transferstar 3 and there is deformable in the manner of a cushion but withoutany folds.

The printing station 4 also includes a print head 8, which is located atthe periphery of the transfer drum 3 so as not to rotate with thetransfer drum and by way of which in each case the complete print imageto be applied onto a bottle 2 in negative or mirror-inverted form, i.e.as a negative printed image is applied onto the transfer surface 4.1 ofthe transfer elements 4 moved past the print head 8 when the transferdrum 3 rotates. In other words, the print head 8 may be stationary andmay be disposed adjacent to the transfer drum or transfer rotor 3. Thetransfer rotor 3 may be configured to rotate. The print head 8 is in onepossible embodiment an electronic print head and, for a multi-colorprint, includes a plurality of electronically actuatable individualprint heads, which are provided consecutively in the direction ofrotation A, for example one single print head for black and a pluralityof individual print heads for the different color sets of a multi-colorprint.

The individual print heads are, for example, those that are known underthe designation “tone jet” and which, in each case, have a multiple ofnozzle openings in a row, which is oriented parallel or substantiallyparallel to the axis of the transfer drum 3. An electrode is associatedwith each nozzle opening. The individual print heads or their electrodesare actuated by a control device 9 electronically creating the printimage, in such a manner that where there is a change in the potential ofthe associated electrode relative to the potential of the nozzleopenings, print ink is applied at the nozzle openings to create an imagedot on the transfer surface 4.1.

A cleaning station or cleaning position 10 is provided preceding theprint head 8 in the direction of rotation A at the periphery of thetransfer drum 3 and not rotating with the transfer drum 3, at whichcleaning station 10 the transfer elements 4, moved past by way of thetransfer drum 3, are cleaned before the new negative print image isapplied, i.e. any residual printing ink present is removed. The cleaningstation 10 is formed in the simplest case by one or more scrapers.

Each transfer element 4, provided with the negative print image on thetransfer surface 4, arrives by way of the rotating transfer drum 3 at aprint region 11 when a bottle 2, standing upright at that location on abottle or container conveyor 12, i.e. oriented with its axis in thevertical or substantially vertical direction, is moved past. Thecontainer conveyor 12, in the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 through3, is a turntable or rotor that is driven in a rotating manner about avertical or substantially vertical machine axis synchronously orsubstantially synchronously with the transfer drum 3, with a pluralityof plate-shaped container carriers 13 which are provided offset atregular angular spacings about the vertical or substantially verticalmachine axis of the rotor on its circumference and are rotatable in acontrolled manner about their vertical or substantially vertical machineaxes. By way of the respective container carrier 13, each bottle 2,which is secured against falling over at its upper end by an element(not represented), for example by a plunger, is rotated at the printregion 11 about its bottle axis (arrow C) in such a manner that thebottle 2, by way of the region to be printed (for example bottle belly2.1), in a non-slip manner rolls off the transfer element 4 or thetransfer surface 4.1 moved past and consequently the negative printimage from the respective transfer element 4 is applied onto the bottle2 concerned as a positive print.

In at least one possible embodiment of the present application, thetransfer drum or transfer rotor 3 may rotate about a vertical orsubstantially vertical axis in the direction of rotation A. The transferelements 4 may be disposed adjacent to and connected to the outercircumference of the transfer rotor 3. Thus, the transfer elements 4 maybe moved past the print head 8 in the direction of rotation A as thetransfer rotor 3 rotates. The print head 8 may be configured to applyinformation or an image on the transfer elements 4 as the transferelements 4 move past the print head 8. In at least one possibleembodiment, the image applied to the transfer element 4 may be aninverse image, or mirrored image, or negative image, or reversed image.In at least one possible embodiment, the printing medium may be ink. Inat least one other possible embodiment, the printing medium may bepaint. Each bottle 2, standing upright on the associated containercarrier 13 and printed in this manner, then continues to be moved by wayof the container conveyor 12, and, amongst other things, arrives at astation 14, at which the print image applied directly onto the bottle 2is dried, set or fired-in through the effect of energy or theapplication of energy, for example through infrared radiation, UVradiation, microwave energy, hot air, etc., in one possible embodimentwith the bottle 2 continuing to be rotated about its bottle axis by wayof the container carrier 13.

A characteristic of the printing station 1 is that, when the bottles aremoved past the print head 8, the complete print image to be applied tothe bottle 2 is created on each transfer surface 4.1, in each case innegative form. In order to obtain a high quality print image, in onepossible embodiment also one that is clean, zero defect and sharp, it isnecessary and/or desired for a precisely or substantially preciselypredetermined spacing to be maintained in an accurate manner between thetransfer surface 4.1 and the print head 8 or the individual print heads.This is possible and does not pose any problems.

The resilient intermediate layer 6 essentially ensures or promotes thateven with dimensional tolerances, e.g. tolerances in the diameter of thebottles 2 that can certainly be in the range of between 0.5 millimeterto 0.7 millimeter, and also in the case of unevenness, the closeabutting of the transfer surface 4.1 against the bottle region to beprinted that is necessary and/or desired for the transferring of theprint image from the transfer element 4 to the respective bottle 2 isessentially ensured or promoted. Consequently, in one possibleembodiment of the present application, the printing station 1 may makepossible a high quality print whilst at the same time the very criticalor substantially critical spacing between the print head 8 and thetransfer surfaces 4.1 is maintained, in spite of considerabledimensional tolerances between the bottles 2, the tolerances beingcompensated by the resilient design of the transfer elements 4, i.e. inthe resilient intermediate layers 6.

In at least one possible embodiment of the present application, thetransfer element 4 may be configured to compensate for 0.5 millimetersto 0.7 millimeters of diameter tolerance in the outer surfaces of thebeverage bottles 2. The transfer element 4 may also be configured tocompensate for variances, unevenness, and/or surface roughness in theouter surfaces of the beverage bottles 2. The transfer element 4 maycomprise an arc-shape or curve which conforms to the outer circumferenceof the transfer drum or transfer rotor 3. The transfer element 4 maycomprise an adhesive layer or outer layer 5, an intermediate layer 6,and a carrier layer 7. The adhesive or outer layer 5 may comprise anarc-shape or curve which conforms to the outer circumference of thetransfer rotor 3. The outer layer 5 may comprise a transfer surface 4.1.The transfer surface 4.1 may be configured to accept a printed imagefrom the print head 8. The transfer surface 4.1 may be configuredtransfer a printed image onto the outer surface of a beverage bottle 2,for example, onto the bottle belly 2.1 or the bottle neck 2.2. Thetransfer surface 4.1 may be configured to come in contact with the outersurface of the beverage bottle 2, thereby transferring the printed imageonto the outer surface of the bottle 2. The outer layer 5 of thetransfer element 4 may comprise a material which is sufficiently firm topermit the transfer surface 4.1 to accept an image from the print head8. The outer layer 5 may comprise a material that is also sufficientlyresilient to compensate for variances, unevenness, surface roughness,and/or diameter tolerances in the outer surfaces of the beverage bottles2. The outer layer 5 may be configured to compensate for 0.5 millimetersto 0.7 millimeters of diameter tolerance in the outer surfaces of thebeverage bottles 2. The outer layer 5 may comprise a material which issufficiently firm to permit the transfer surface 4.1 to transfer animage to the outer surface of a bottle 2 with no distortion,substantially no distortion, or essentially no distortion of the image.The outer layer 5 may comprise a material that is sufficiently firm totransfer an image from the transfer surface 4.1 to the beverage bottlebelly 2.1 with no distortion, substantially no distortion, oressentially no distortion of the image. The outer layer 5 may comprise amaterial that is sufficiently firm to transfer an image from thetransfer surface 4.1 to the beverage bottle neck 2.2 with no distortion,substantially no distortion, or essentially no distortion of the image.

The outer layer 5 may be disposed adjacent to and connected to theintermediate layer 6 of the transfer element 4. The intermediate layermay be disposed between the outer layer 5 and the carrier layer 7. Theintermediate layer may comprise an arc-shape or curve which conforms tothe outer circumference of the transfer rotor 3. The outer layer 5 maycomprise a transfer surface 4.1. The intermediate layer may beconfigured to compensate for 0.5 millimeters to 0.7 millimeters ofdiameter tolerance in the outer surfaces of the beverage bottles 2. Theintermediate layer 6 may comprise a material that is sufficiently firmto permit the transfer surface 4.1 to transfer an image to the outersurface of the beverage bottle 2 with no distortion, substantially nodistortion, or essentially no distortion of the image. The intermediatelayer 6 may comprise a material that is sufficiently firm to apply animage to the beverage bottle belly 2.1 distortion, substantially nodistortion, or essentially no distortion of the image. The intermediatelayer 6 may comprise a material that is sufficiently firm to apply animage to the beverage bottle neck 2.2 with no distortion, substantiallyno distortion, or essentially no distortion of the image. Theintermediate layer 6 may comprise a rubber or an elastomeric plasticsmaterial, such as PTE. The intermediate layer 6 may be comprised of amaterial sufficiently resilient to compensate for variances, surfaceroughness, and diameter tolerances in the surface of beverage bottles 2.

The carrier layer 7 may be adjacent to and connected to the outercircumference of the transfer drum or transfer rotor 3. The carrierlayer may be adjacent to and connected to the intermediate layer 6. Thecarrier layer 7 may connect the transfer element 4 to the outercircumference of the transfer rotor 3. The carrier layer 7 may becomprised of metal. In at least one possible embodiment of the presentapplication, the carrier layer may be comprised of plastic.

FIG. 4 shows an apparatus 15 for printing bottles 2 or similarcontainers, the apparatus having, in its turn, the container conveyor12, which is in the form of a rotor and is driven rotatingly about amachine axis in the direction of the arrow B, with the containercarriers 13 provided on the circumference. At the periphery of thecontainer conveyor 12 there are two printing stations 1; in theembodiment represented they are offset one relative to the other by onehundred eighty degrees about the vertical axis of rotation of thecontainer conveyor 12.

In the case of the apparatus 15, the container carriers 13 are not onlyrotatable in a controlled manner about their vertical container carrieraxes, but at the same time, with reference to the vertical orsubstantially vertical axis of the container conveyor 12, are alsomoveable in a controlled manner radially or substantially radially sothat the container carriers 13 or the bottles 2 located standing uprighton the container carriers, are rotated at the print region 11 of eachprinting station 1 not only about the vertical or substantially verticalaxis of the container carriers 13 (arrow C) but are also moved on acurved path about the axis of the respective transfer drum 3, forexample on a part circular path. In this way the angular region of therotational movement of the container conveyor 12 useable for thetransferring of the print image from the transfer elements 4 onto thebottles 2 is increased in a considerable manner, such that high qualityprinting of the bottles 2 is essentially ensured or promoted with thedevice 15 achieving a high or optimum output (number of printed bottles2 per unit of time).

The bottles 2 are supplied to the apparatus 15 by means of a conveyorbelt 16 and each arrive individually via an inlet star 17 on a containercarrier 13. The printed bottles 2 are removed from the respectivecontainer carrier 13 at an outlet star 18 and are forwarded on by way ofthe conveyor belt 16. By way of the two printing stations 1, printing iseffected on the bottles 2 at different regions 11, for example at thebottle belly 2.1 by way of the one printing station 1 and at the bottleneck 2.2 by way of the other printing station 1. In principle, however,it is also possible to supplement the print image created by way of theprinting station 1 that is first in the transport direction B, with theprinting station 1 that is following in the transport direction B, also,for example, differing individually from bottle 2 to bottle 2 ordiffering individually from bottle group to bottle group.

A drying station 14 for drying, setting and/or firing-in the print imageis provided in its turn in the transport direction B following eachprinting station 1.

As another embodiment, FIGS. 5 and 6 show a printing station 1 a whichdiffers from the printing station 1 essentially in that the transferelements 4 a, corresponding to the transfer elements 4 as regards theirfunction and their design, are provided on an auxiliary conveyor in theform of at least one belt-shaped, band-shaped or chain-shaped transportelement 19 that forms a closed oval loop and is driven (arrow D) in anendlessly rotating manner. The transport element 19 is guided via atleast two wheels that are indicated in FIG. 5 by the reference 20 andsupport the transfer elements 4 a on the outside of the loop. Eachtransfer element 4 a, in its turn, is produced from the adhesive layerforming the transfer surface 4 a. 1, the resilient intermediate layerand a carrier element with which the transfer element 4 a is retained atthe transport element 19. Contrary to the transfer elements 4, thetransfer elements 4 a are planar or substantially planar on theirtransfer surface 4.1. The print head 8 and the cleaning station 10 thatprecedes the print head 8 in the direction of transport D of thetransport element 19 are provided on a rectilinear loop length 19.1 ofthe transport element 19.

The print region 11 a is formed on the loop length 19.2 of the transportelement 19, the loop length also being rectilinear and lying oppositethe loop length 19.1, and the bottles 2, standing upright on a containerconveyor 21 or on plate-like container carriers 22 at that location, aremoved past the print region 11 a in a straight line, with the containercarriers 22 and the bottles 2 rotating about their vertical orsubstantially vertical axes (arrow E) in such a manner that each bottle2 rolls off a transfer element 4 a in a non-slip manner or off thetransfer surface 4 a. 1 located there in a vertical or substantiallyvertical plane for transferring the negative print image.

The method of operation of the printing station 1 a corresponds to themethod of operation of the printing station 1, i.e. a complete negativeprint image is created in each case on the transfer surfaces 4 a. 1 whenthe bottle is moved past the print head 8 and the negative print imageis then transferred to a bottle 2 at the print region 11 a. Beforereaching the print head 8, the respective transfer surface 4 a. 1 iscleaned at the cleaning position 10 or is relieved of print ink residueby means of scrapers. The printed bottles 2 are moved along by means ofthe container conveyor 21, among other things to a drying station thatcorresponds to the drying station 14 (not shown).

In at least one possible embodiment of the present application, theprinting station 1 a may comprise a relatively large length of thetransport section of the container conveyor 21 being available for thetransferring of the negative print images from the transfer elements 4 aonto the bottles 2, which means that the printing station 1 a is also inone possible embodiment suitable for very high outputs, or maximizeoutput of printed bottles 2.

The printing station 1 may comprise a plurality of print heads, as seenin FIG. 7. The plurality of print heads 24 may be oriented at a rightangle or virtually perpendicular to the direction of travel Z of thetransfer element 4 at a short distance above this material or above theprinting plane formed by the transfer element 4. In the illustratedembodiment seen in FIG. 7, this printing plane is a horizontal plane. Inother possible embodiments of the present application, the plane may belinear or curved, and the printing plane may not be a horizontal plane.

To promote optimum printing performance (number of impressions per unitof time) with the optimum possible printing quality, in this embodimentthe print heads 24 are realized in the form of electrostatic printheads. For multicolor printing, there may be at least three print heads,each of which is used to print one color set of a multi-color printing.The printing heads thus comprise, in their coloring, different colors ofink, e.g. red, blue, and yellow. Basically it is also possible toprovide additional print-heads 24 in the printing station 1, for examplea fourth print head 24 for black ink.

As also shown in FIG. 7, the print head 24 comprises a housing 25 whichforms, among other things, a closed interior compartment 26 which holdsthe liquid or viscous ink. Each housing 25 is designed so that theinterior compartment 26 tapers in a cone or wedge shape toward a lowerhousing segment 25.1. On this housing segment 25.1, which extends overthe entire length of each print head 24 or the print head housing 25 andis oriented parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis DLof the housing or print head and thus also parallel or substantiallyparallel to the printing plane, there are a plurality of individuallyactivated nozzles 27 for the controlled dispensing of the ink orprinting medium, and possibly in at least one row sequentially in thedirection of the longitudinal axis DL of the print head 24 and arrangedclose together, so that, for example, one hundred and fifty individualnozzles 27 per inch or more are formed on the housing segment 25.1. Withthe housing segment 25.1 that has the individual nozzles 27, each printhead 24 is located at the above mentioned short distance above thetransfer element 4 to be printed or the printing plane. The transferelement 4 is continuously or substantially continuously moved forwardpast the respective print head 24 during the printing in the directionof travel Z. As a result of the above mentioned orientation of the printheads 24, in at least one embodiment the direction of forward movementor travel Z is at a right angle, that is perpendicular or substantiallyperpendicular to the print head longitudinal axis DL of the print heads24. In the illustrated embodiment seen in FIG. 7, the print heads 24 arearranged with their longitudinal axes DL of the print heads parallel orsubstantially parallel to one another in the horizontal direction, andin at least one embodiment in a common horizontal plane.

Each individual nozzle 27 comprises an aperture 28 and a needle-shapedelectrode 29 that corresponds to this aperture 28. The axis of theelectrode 29 is oriented equi-axially with the axis of the respectiveaperture 28 and ends at a slight distance from this aperture 28 insidethe housing interior compartment 26. Each print head 24 may also berealized so that, at least during the printing process, the ink that isin the housing interior compartment 26 is pressed at a certainhydrostatic pressure toward the apertures 28 of the individual nozzles27. The cross section of the openings 28, however, is selected takingthe viscosity and/or the surface tension of the ink into considerationso that when the individual nozzle 27 is not activated, ink or printingmedium does not exit the apertures 28 in spite of the hydrostaticpressure.

The electrodes 29 can be actuated individually by means of a controldevice 112, and possibly so that when the individual nozzle 27 is notactivated, the corresponding electrode 29 is at the same electricalpotential as the ink in the interior 26 of the housing. When anindividual nozzle 27 is activated, the potential of the correspondingelectrode 29 is varied briefly or in a pulsed fashion by a correspondingactivation or actuation by the control device 112, so that ink orprinting medium is dispensed via the aperture 28 to produce a printeddot 31 on the transfer element 4.

Because the print heads 24 are oriented with the longitudinal axis DL oftheir print head at a right angle or perpendicular or substantiallyperpendicular to the direction Z of forward travel of the transferelement 4, the printing on the transfer element 4 is often done in rowsthat run perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction or direction of forward travel Z of the transferelement 4 over the entire width of the area to be printed, e.g. over alarge part of the width of the transfer element 4, and possiblyprogressively in the direction of forward travel Z of the transferelement 4. The individual nozzles 27 can be activated at high speed. Forthe printing, moreover, a single relative movement between the transferelement 4 and the respective print head 24, namely only which movement,in at least one embodiment, comprises the forward movement of thetransfer element 4. For these reasons, a high print output may beachieved. The respective image is generated digitally in the controldevice 112 by a corresponding actuation of the individual nozzles 27 andis stored in the control device 112 or in a memory of the control devicein the form of a digital dataset.

The transfer element 4 may be printed at the printing station 1 so thatthe imprint and/or the graphic and/or color layout or decoration printedon the transfer element 4 is produced by the printing station 1 on thetransfer element 4 and/or an imprint that is already present on thetransfer element 4 is supplemented in a desired fashion with the printerstation 1, e.g. text, colors or graphics can be added. Variousadvantageous capabilities, i.e. among others the ability to rapidlyconvert the printing station 1 to different products, to set and/oradjust the size of the current printed impression to the size of thebottles or containers 2, become possible because the transfer element 4is printed in the device 1, i.e. immediately or essentially immediatelybefore the transfer element 4 is used to transfer an image onto an outersurface of a bottle 2, and as a result of the activation of the printerstation 1 or of the print heads 24 located in it by the electroniccontrol unit 112 with the use of digital print forms or templates storedin the printer unit. It is also possible to easily modify the impressionon the transfer element 4 simply by reprogramming or modifying a programin the electronic control device 112. It is also possible, among otherthings, during the printing process, to change the impression and thusthe image transferred to a bottle 2, e.g. to reformat or redesign theprinted image to be transferred to each bottle or container 2, often sothat each printed image may be then composed of a constant, unchangingcomponent and variable text and/or information. The components of theprinted image that vary can, for example, be numerical or alphanumericalinformation, e.g. information relating to the manufacturing date, theuse-by date or information in the form of a numerical code, etc.

It goes without saying that the forward movement of the transfer element4, at least in the vicinity of the print heads 24, may be regulated bythe electronic control device 112, and possibly in synchronization orsubstantial synchronization with the actuation of the print heads 24, tothereby achieve a clear, high-quality printed image. It further goeswithout saying that centering and guide means for the transfer element 4are provided in the vicinity of the print heads 24 to optimally orientthis material with reference to the print heads 24, and/or to complywith the specified distance or desired distance between the print heads24 and the transfer element 4.

FIG. 8 shows schematically the main components of one possibleembodiment example of a system for filling containers, specifically, abeverage bottling plant for filling bottles 130 with at least one liquidbeverage, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, in whichsystem or plant could possibly be utilized at least one aspect, orseveral aspects, of the embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101, to which thecontainers, namely bottles 130, are fed in the direction of travel asindicated by the arrow 131, by a first conveyer arrangement 103, whichcan be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and astarwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101,in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow 131, the rinsedbottles 130 are transported to a beverage filling machine 105 by asecond conveyer arrangement 104 that is formed, for example, by one ormore starwheels that introduce bottles 130 into the beverage fillingmachine 105.

The beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or rotarydesign, with a rotor 105′, which revolves around a central, verticalmachine axis. The rotor 105′ is designed to receive and hold the bottles130 for filling at a plurality of filling positions 113 located aboutthe periphery of the rotor 105′. At each of the filling positions 103 islocated a filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling device,element, apparatus, or valve. The filling arrangements 114 are designedto introduce a predetermined volume or amount of liquid beverage intothe interior of the bottles 130 to a predetermined or desired level.

The filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage material from atoroidal or annular vessel 117, in which a supply of liquid beveragematerial is stored under pressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel 117 is acomponent, for example, of the revolving rotor 105′. The toroidal vessel117 can be connected by means of a rotary coupling or a coupling thatpermits rotation. The toroidal vessel 117 is also connected to at leastone external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by aconduit or supply line. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, there are twoexternal supply reservoirs 123 and 124, each of which is configured tostore either the same liquid beverage product or different products.These reservoirs 123, 124 are connected to the toroidal or annularvessel 117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121and 122. The external supply reservoirs 123, 124 could be in the form ofsimple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers,in at least one possible embodiment.

As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel,it is possible that in at least one possible embodiment there could be asecond toroidal or annular vessel which contains a second product. Inthis case, each filling arrangement 114 could be connected by separateconnections to each of the two toroidal vessels and have twoindividually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in eachbottle 130, the first product or the second product can be filled bymeans of an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.

Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105, in the direction oftravel of the bottles 130, there can be a beverage bottle closingarrangement or closing station 106 which closes or caps the bottles 130.The beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 can beconnected by a third conveyer arrangement 107 to a beverage bottlelabeling arrangement or labeling station 108. The third conveyorarrangement may be formed, for example, by a plurality of starwheels, ormay also include a linear conveyor device.

In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling arrangementor labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit, device, ormodule, for applying labels to bottles 130. In the embodiment shown, thelabeling arrangement 108 is connected by a starwheel conveyer structureto three output conveyer arrangements: a first output conveyerarrangement 109, a second output conveyer arrangement 110, and a thirdoutput conveyer arrangement 111, all of which convey filled, closed, andlabeled bottles 130 to different locations.

The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment shown, isdesigned to convey bottles 130 that are filled with a first type ofliquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 123. Thesecond output conveyer arrangement 110, in the embodiment shown, isdesigned to convey bottles 130 that are filled with a second type ofliquid beverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 124. Thethird output conveyer arrangement 111, in the embodiment shown, isdesigned to convey incorrectly labeled bottles 130. To further explain,the labeling arrangement 108 can comprise at least one beverage bottleinspection or monitoring device that inspects or monitors the locationof labels on the bottles 130 to determine if the labels have beencorrectly placed or aligned on the bottles 130. The third outputconveyer arrangement 111 removes any bottles 130 which have beenincorrectly labeled as determined by the inspecting device.

The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central controlarrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized controlsystem that monitors and controls the operation of the various stationsand mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.

FIG. 9 shows one possible embodiment for filling bottles or containerswith a filling material, for example a liquid beverage material. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 9, filled, closed bottles or containers 130 maybe transferred, conveyed, and/or moved from a conveyor arrangement 107to the apparatus or printing machine or labeling machine 15 of thepresent application. Bottles or containers 130 may be moved from theconveyor 107 to the inlet or inlet starwheel 17. The inlet starwheel 17may then feed the filled, closed bottles 130 to the rotor 12. The rotor12 may then rotate the bottles 130 past a plurality of printing stations1 of the present application. Each printing station 1 may be configuredto print and transfer an image, or information in the form of an image,onto the filled, closed bottles 130 disposed on the rotor 12. Thefilled, closed bottles 130 that are now labeled with information and/oran image may then be moved from the rotor 12 to an outlet or outletstarwheel 18. The outlet starwheel 18 may then transfer or move thefilled, closed, labeled containers or bottles 130 to the conveyor 109.

FIG. 10 shows one schematic embodiment of the present application, inwhich a bottling plant comprises a filling machine 105, a closingmachine 106, a labeling machine 108, a control device 112, and anapparatus or printing machine or labeling machine 15 of the presentapplication. The printing machine 15 comprises a conveyor 16, an inlet17, an outlet 18, a rotor 12, a plurality of printing regions orpositions 11, and a plurality of printing stations 1. The printingstations 1 may comprise a transfer drum 3, a plurality of transferelements 4 and 4 a, a print head or print head arrangement 8, a controldevice 9, a cleaning station 10, and a drying station 14.

In the plant seen in FIG. 10, bottles or containers 130 may be moved toa printing machine 15. The empty bottles or containers 130 may belabeled with information and/or an image in the printing machine 15. Inthe apparatus 15, an image or information may be printed on a transferelement 4. The transfer element 4 may then transfer the printed image orprinted information onto an empty bottle 130. Once the information orimage is transferred onto an outer surface of the beverage bottle 130,the empty, labeled bottle 130 may be moved into the filling machine 105.The labeled bottle 130 may be filled in the filling machine 105, andthen the labeled, filled bottle 130 may be then transferred to theclosing machine 106. The labeled, filled bottle 130 may be closed in theclosing machine 106. The labeled, filled, closed bottle or container 130may then be transferred out of the closing machine 106 and furtherprocessed in the bottling plant.

The present application has been described above by way of possibleembodiments. It is obvious that numerous changes and conversions arepossible without departing thereby from the teaching concept thatunderlies the present application.

Thus, it has been assumed above that the container conveyor 21 is alinear container conveyor and that accordingly the transfer elements 4 aare moved at the print region 11 a over a rectilinear loop length 19.2of the transport element 19. It is also possible, in principle, to guidethe transport element 19 and consequently also the transfer elements 4 aat the print region 11 a on a curved path, for example on a path curvedin a part circular manner so that the corresponding printing station canthen also be located at the periphery of a container transporter in theform of a rotor that rotates about a vertical or substantially verticalmachine axis.

It has also been assumed above that the transfer elements 4 or 4 a areeach multi-layered, produced from the adhesive layer 5, the intermediatelayer 6 and the carrier layer 7. However, among other things, it is alsopossible to produce several layers in one piece, for example theadhesive layer 5 can be produced as a closed outer skin or layer of aresilient intermediate layer 6 that is realized with a plurality ofpores. Through the resilient, cushion-like design of the transferelement 4, it may be possible to compensate for the bottle or containertolerances in the transfer element.

If, in the disclosure or claims of the present application, theinformation-adding station is described as being utilized “incombination with” or “with” a bottle filling plant or a containerfilling plant, it is not necessary that the information-adding machineis disposed within a bottle filling plant or container filling plant. Inat least one possible embodiment of the present application, forexample, bottles or containers may be filled in a bottle or containerfilling plant. The bottles or containers may then be shipped to afacility wherein the information-adding station may apply information tothe bottles according to the present application. In at least onepossible embodiment, bottles may first have information added to theirouter surfaces via an information-adding station according to thepresent application. In this embodiment, the bottles may then be shippedto a bottling plant where the bottles are filled and closed. In at leastone possible embodiment of the present application, theinformation-adding machine may be disposed in a bottling plant and beconnected to or utilized directly in conjunction with a bottling plantand/or bottling system.

The present application relates to an apparatus for printing bottles orsimilar containers on an outer surface of a container. The apparatuscomprises at least one printing station. The containers may be movedpast the print region of the printing station on a container conveyor,at least one print head, and a transfer element. The transfer elementforms at least one transfer surface, which is provided at an auxiliaryconveyor and is moved by way of the auxiliary conveyor at least betweenthe at least one print head and the print region for applying a negativeprint image onto the at least one transfer surface for transferring thenegative print image onto a container region rolling off the transfersurface.

Apparatus for printing bottles or similar containers on an outer surfaceof a container, the apparatus having at least one printing station, thecontainers being moved past the print region of said printing station ona container conveyor, and at least one print head and a transferelement, which forms at least one transfer surface and is provided at anauxiliary conveyor.

One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of thefiling of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in anapparatus for printing bottles or similar containers 2 on an outersurface of a container, said apparatus having at least one printingstation 1, 1 a, the containers 2 being moved past the print region 11,11 a of said printing station on a container conveyor 12, 21, and atleast one print head 8 and a transfer element 4, 4 a, which forms atleast one transfer surface 4.1, 4.1 a, is provided at an auxiliaryconveyor 3, 19 and is moved by way of the auxiliary conveyor 3, 19 atleast between the at least one print head 8 and the print region 11, 11a for applying a negative print image onto the at least one transfersurface 4.1, 4 a. 1 for transferring the negative print image onto acontainer region 2.1, 2.2 rolling off the transfer surface 4.1, 4 a. 1,wherein the transfer surface 41, 4 a. 1 is resilient or springy.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein in each case a complete negative print image iscreated by way of the print head 8.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe apparatus, wherein at least one station 10 is provided for cleaningthe at least one transfer surface 4.1, 4 a. 1 in the direction ofmovement or direction of transport A, D of the auxiliary conveyor 3, 19upstream of the at least one print head 8.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe apparatus, wherein a plurality of transfer elements 4, 4 a areprovided at the auxiliary conveyor 3, 19.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein each transfer element 4, 4 a is realized with atleast two layers, comprising an adhesive layer forming the transfersurface 4.1, 4 a. 1 and a resilient intermediate layer 6 supporting saidadhesive layer.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein the adhesive layer 5 and/or the intermediate layer 6is produced from one or more individual layers or coats.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe apparatus, wherein the auxiliary conveyor is a transfer drum 3driven in a rotating manner about a drum axis, for example about an axisparallel or substantially parallel to the axis of the containers 2.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe apparatus, wherein the auxiliary transporter is formed by at leastone band-like, belt-like or chain-like transport element 19 forming aclosed loop.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein the container conveyor 12 is a turntable or rotorthat rotates about a vertical or substantially vertical machine axis.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein the container conveyor 21 is a linear conveyor.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe apparatus, comprising container carriers 13, 22 at the containerconveyor 12, 21 for one container 2 in each case.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe apparatus, comprising means for the controlled rotating of thecontainer carriers 13, 22 and consequently of the containers 2 at leastat the print region 11, 11 a.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, comprising means for the controlled moving of the containercarriers 13 in the manner that the path of movement of the containercarriers 13 and consequently of the containers 2 located on saidcontainer carriers extends at the print region 11 of the at least oneprint station 1 parallel or substantially parallel to the path ofmovement at that location of the transfer elements 4, for exampleconcentrically to a circular path of movement of the transfer elements4.

One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of thefiling of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein the at least one transfer surface 4.1 of the at leastone transfer element 4 is curved in a convex manner, for example in anarcuate manner.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in theapparatus, wherein the at least one transfer surface 4 a. 1 of the atleast one transfer element 4 a is planar or substantially planar.

The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed orincorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possibleembodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalents thereof.

The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally toenable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determinequickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patentapplication. The description of the technical field is believed, at thetime of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describethe technical field of this patent application. However, the descriptionof the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims asoriginally filed in this patent application, as amended duringprosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in anypatent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statementsmade relating to the technical field are not intended to limit theclaims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting theclaims in any manner.

The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions,proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention,are accurate and are hereby included by reference into thisspecification.

The background information is believed, at the time of the filing ofthis patent application, to adequately provide background informationfor this patent application. However, the background information may notbe completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in thispatent application, as amended during prosecution of this patentapplication, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from thispatent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to thebackground information are not intended to limit the claims in anymanner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in anymanner.

All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the variousembodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of theembodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.

The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generallyto enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determinequickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patentapplication. The description of the object or objects is believed, atthe time of the filing of this patent application, to adequatelydescribe the object or objects of this patent application. However, thedescription of the object or objects may not be completely applicable tothe claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amendedduring prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowedin any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, anystatements made relating to the object or objects are not intended tolimit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limitingthe claims in any manner.

All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein,and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein except for theexceptions indicated herein.

The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patentapplication, to adequately summarize this patent application. However,portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not becompletely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patentapplication, as amended during prosecution of this patent application,and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patentapplication. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary arenot intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not beinterpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patentapplications, and other documents which are included in this applicationand which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of .. . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment ofthe present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable inany one or more embodiments of the application.

The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published patentapplications and other documents either incorporated by reference or notincorporated by reference.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/370,667, filed on Feb. 13, 2007,having inventor Volker TILL, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-213, and title“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL PRINTING ONTO INDIVIDUALBOTTLES IN A RUN OF BOTTLES WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES IN THE RUN HAVEAT LEAST ONE VARYING DIMENSION DUE TO MANUFACTURING TOLERANCES, THEMETHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING MORE CONSISTENT ARTWORK ON INDIVIDUALCONTAINERS IN THE RUN OF CONTAINERS,” and its corresponding FederalRepublic of Germany Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 038 247.1, filedon Aug. 16, 2006, and International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2007/007189, filed on Aug. 15, 2007, having WIPO Publication No.WO2008/019829 A1, and inventor Volker TILL, and its correspondingFederal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 038 249.8,filed on Aug. 16, 2006, and International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2007/007190, filed on Aug. 15, 2007, having WIPO Publication No.WO2008/019830, and inventor Volker TILL are hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/257,935, filed on Oct. 24, 2008,having inventor Volker TILL, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-182, and title“METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING IMAGES AND/OR TEXT ON PACKAGING MATERIALAND THEN FORMING PACKAGES FOR CONTAINING LIQUID BEVERAGE OR OTHERMATERIALS OUT OF THE PRINTED PACKAGING MATERIAL,” and its correspondingFederal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 019 994.4,filed on Apr. 26, 2006, and International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2007/003680, filed on Apr. 26, 2007, having WIPO Publication No.WO2007/124913 A1, and inventor Volker TILL are hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

The “Tonejet” print head, developed by The Technology Partnership plc,is an example of a print head which may possibly be utilized or adaptedfor use in at least one possible embodiment. Some examples of printheads that may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least onepossible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. patents:U.S. Pat. No. 7,387,366, issued Jun. 17, 2008, entitled “Printhead;”U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,965, issued Nov. 23, 2004, entitled “Drop-on-DemandPrinter;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,271, issued Aug. 5, 2008, entitled“Self-Cooling Thermal Ink Jet Printhead;” and U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,906,issued Jun. 3, 2008, entitled “Printhead.”

Some examples of bottling systems which may possibly be utilized oradapted for use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly befound in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,602, entitled“Compact bottling machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,922, entitled “Bottlingplant for bottling carbonated beverages;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,150,entitled “Drive for bottling machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,575, entitled“Bottling plant and method of operating a bottling plant;” U.S. Pat. No.6,192,946, entitled “Bottling system;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,910, entitled“Method and an apparatus for high-purity bottling of beverages;” U.S.Pat. No. 6,058,985, entitled “Bottling machine with a set-up table and aset-up table for a bottling machine and a set-up table for a bottlehandling machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,322, entitled “In-line bottlingplant;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,899, entitled “Method and an apparatus forsterile bottling of beverages;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,515, entitled“Continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,500,entitled “Method for bottling a liquid in bottles or similarcontainers;” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,402, entitled “Bottling system withmass filling and capping arrays.”

Some examples of apparatus and methods for the drying and/or hardeningof ink that may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at least onepossible embodiment may possibly be found in the following U.S. patents:U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,018, entitled “Wide format thermal printer;” U.S.Pat. No. 6,957,030, entitled “Method and apparatus for making signs;”U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,528, entitled “Method for uniformly drying ink onpaper from an ink jet printer;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,123, entitled“Method and apparatus for UV ink jet printing on fabric and combinationprinting and quilting thereby;” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,737, entitled“UV ink printed graphic article.”

Some examples of starwheels which may possibly be utilized or adaptedfor use in at least one possible embodiment may possibly be found in thefollowing U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,593, entitled “Containerhandling starwheel;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,695, entitled “Improvedstarwheel;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,112, entitled “Odd-shaped containerindexing starwheel;” and U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,686, entitled “Starwheelcontrol in a system for conveying containers.”

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/202,610, filed on Sep. 2, 2008,having inventor Volker TILL, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-178A, and title“METHOD OF OPERATING A MULTIPLE CONTAINER SHRINK WRAPPING MACHINE HAVINGA PRINTING ARRANGEMENT TO PRINT OF THE SHRINK WRAP MATERIALSIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE WRAPPING CONTAINERS AND A MULTIPLE CONTAINER SHRINKWRAPPING MACHINE THEREFOR,” and its corresponding Federal Republic ofGermany Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 009 348.8, filed on Mar. 1,2006, and International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/000888, filedon Feb. 2, 2007, having WIPO Publication No. WO2007/101517 A2, andinventor Volker TILL are hereby incorporated by reference as if setforth in their entirety herein.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/255,876 filed on Oct. 22, 2008,having inventor Volker TILL, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-181 US, andtitle “METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LABELING CONTAINERS,” and its correspondingFederal Republic of Germany Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 019 441.1,filed on Apr. 24, 2006, and International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2007/002999, filed on Apr. 3, 2007, having WIPO Publication No.WO2007/121835 and inventor Volker TILL, are hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/355,870, filed on Jan. 19, 2009,having inventor Volker TILL, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-202, and title“METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL LABELING OF A RUN OF BLOWMOLDED BOTTLES WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES IN THE RUN HAVE AT LEAST ONEVARYING DIMENSION DUE TO MANUFACTURING TOLERANCES, THE METHOD ANDAPPARATUS PROVIDING MORE CONSISTENT LABELING OF INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS INTHE RUN OF CONTAINERS,” and its corresponding Federal Republic ofGermany Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 038 249.8, filed on Aug. 16,2006, and International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2007/007190, filedon Aug. 15, 2007, having WIPO Publication No. WO2008/019830 A1, andinventor Volker TILL are hereby incorporated by reference as if setforth in their entirety herein.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/690,645, filed on Jan. 20, 2010,having inventor Frank PUTZER, Attorney Docket No. NHL-HOL-119-C, andtitle “BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT HAVING AN INFORMATION ADDING STATION FORADDING INFORMATION TO BOTTLES AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A BEVERAGEBOTTLING PLANT INFORMATION ADDING STATION,” is hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

The following patents, patent applications or patent publications, arehereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entiretyherein except for the exceptions indicated herein: GB 2 376 920, havingthe title “Inkjet printing on a three-dimensional object includingrelative movement of a printhead and the object during printing about arotational axis,” published on Dec. 31, 2002; WO2004/009360, having thetitle “PRINTING PROCESS AND APPARATUS,” published on Jan. 29, 2004; U.S.Pat. No. 6,684,770, having the title “Apparatus and method for directrotary printing compositions only cylindrical articles,” published onJul. 3, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,728, having the title“Container-labeling and -printing synchronization apparatus andprocess,” published on Mar. 14, 2006; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,822,having the title “Digital can decorating apparatus,” published on Jul.26, 2005.

All of the patents, patent applications or patent publications, whichwere cited in the International Search Report dated Jan. 7, 2009, and/orcited elsewhere are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth intheir entirety herein as follows, except for the exceptions indicatedherein: WO 2008/031930, having the title “DEVICE FOR PRINTING BYTRANSFER ONTO A CYLINDRICAL PRINT SUPPORT,” published on Mar. 20, 2008;WO 03/103966, having the title “PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING AMULTICOLOR IMAGE,” published on Dec. 18, 2003; EP 1 053 882, having thetitle “Improved multicolor pad printing system,” published on Nov. 22,2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,357, having the title “Digital candecorating apparatus,” published on Aug. 3, 2004.

The patents, patent applications, and patent publications listed abovein the preceding paragraphs are herein incorporated by reference as ifset forth in their entirety except for the exceptions indicated herein.The purpose of incorporating U.S. patents, Foreign patents,publications, etc. is solely to provide additional information relatingto technical features of one or more embodiments, which information maynot be completely disclosed in the wording in the pages of thisapplication. However, words relating to the opinions and judgments ofthe author and not directly relating to the technical details of thedescription of the embodiments therein are not incorporated byreference. The words all, always, absolutely, consistently, preferably,guarantee, particularly, constantly, ensure, necessarily, immediately,endlessly, avoid, exactly, continually, expediently, ideal, need, must,only, perpetual, precise, perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous,total, unavoidable, and unnecessary, or words substantially equivalentto the above-mentioned words in this sentence, when not used to describetechnical features of one or more embodiments of the patents, patentapplications, and patent publications, are not considered to beincorporated by reference herein.

The corresponding foreign and international patent publicationapplications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No.10 2007 050 493.6, filed on Oct. 19, 2007, having inventor MartinSCHACH, and DE-OS 10 2007 050 493.6 and DE-PS 10 2007 050 493.6, FederalRepublic of Germany Patent Application No. 10 2007 050 490.1, filed onOct. 19, 2007, having inventor Martin SCHACH, and DE-OS 10 2007 050490.1 and DE-PS 10 2007 050 490.1, and International Application No.PCT/EP2008/007043, filed on Aug. 28, 2008, having WIPO Publication No.WO 2009/052890 and inventor Martin SCHACH, are hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein, except for theexceptions indicated herein, for the purpose of correcting andexplaining any possible misinterpretations of the English translationthereof. In addition, the published equivalents of the abovecorresponding foreign and international patent publication applications,and other equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, incorresponding cases in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere,and the references and documents cited in any of the documents citedherein, such as the patents, patent applications and publications, arehereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entiretyherein except for the exceptions indicated herein.

The purpose of incorporating the corresponding foreign equivalent patentapplication(s), that is, PCT/EP2008/007043, German Patent Application 102007 050 493.6, and German Patent Application 10 2007 050 490.1, issolely for the purpose of providing a basis of correction of any wordingin the pages of the present application, which may have beenmistranslated or misinterpreted by the translator. However, wordsrelating to opinions and judgments of the author and not directlyrelating to the technical details of the description of the embodimentstherein are not to be incorporated by reference. The words all, always,absolutely, consistently, preferably, guarantee, particularly,constantly, ensure, necessarily, immediately, endlessly, avoid, exactly,continually, expediently, ideal, need, must, only, perpetual, precise,perfect, require, requisite, simultaneous, total, unavoidable, andunnecessary, or words substantially equivalent to the above-mentionedword in this sentence, when not used to describe technical features ofone or more embodiments of the patents, patent applications, and patentpublications, are not generally considered to be incorporated byreference herein.

Statements made in the original foreign patent applicationsPCT/EP2008/007043, DE 10 2007 050 493.6, and DE 10 2007 050 490.1 fromwhich this patent application claims priority which do not have to dowith the correction of the translation in this patent application arenot to be included in this patent application in the incorporation byreference.

Any statements about admissions of prior art in the original foreignpatent applications PCT/EP2008/007043, DE 10 2007 050 493.6, and DE 102007 050 490.1 are not to be included in this patent application in theincorporation by reference, since the laws relating to prior art innon-U.S. Patent Offices and courts may be substantially different fromthe Patent Laws of the United States.

All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents citedherein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in theirentirety herein exception for the exceptions indicated herein. All ofthe documents cited herein, referred to in the immediately precedingsentence, include all of the patents, patent applications andpublications cited anywhere in the present application.

The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at thetime of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describethe embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However,portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not becompletely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patentapplication, as amended during prosecution of this patent application,and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patentapplication. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodimentor embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner andshould not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may beconsidered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claimsduring prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentablydistinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.

The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally toenable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determinequickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patentapplication. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of thispatent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of thispatent application.

However, the title may not be completely applicable to the technicalfield, the object or objects, the summary, the description of theembodiment or embodiments, and the claims as originally filed in thispatent application, as amended during prosecution of this patentapplication, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from thispatent application. Therefore, the title is not intended to limit theclaims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting theclaims in any manner.

The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):

-   -   A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the        specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably        following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the        Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent        and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine        quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the        technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for        interpreting the scope of the claims.        Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not        intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be        interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the contextof the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting theembodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof,since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention.

AT LEAST PARTIAL NOMENCLATURE

-   -   1, 1 a Printing station    -   2 Bottle    -   2.1 Bottle belly    -   2.2 Bottle neck    -   3 Transfer drum    -   4, 4 a Transfer element    -   4.1, 4 a. 1 Transfer surface    -   5 Adhesive layer    -   6 Intermediate layer    -   7 Support element    -   8 Print head    -   9 Control device    -   10 Cleaning station    -   11, 11 a Printing position or printing region    -   12 Container conveyor    -   13 Container carrier    -   14 Drying station    -   15 Apparatus    -   16 Conveyor belt    -   17 Inlet star    -   18 Outlet star    -   19 Auxiliary conveyor or loop-shaped transport element    -   19.1, 19.2 Rectilinear length of the loop of the transport        element 19    -   20 Wheel    -   21 Container conveyor    -   22 Container carrier    -   A Direction of rotation of the transfer drum 3    -   B Direction of rotation or of transport of the container        conveyor 12    -   C Direction of rotation of the container carrier 13    -   D Direction of movement of the transport element 19    -   E Direction of transport of the container conveyor 21    -   F Direction of rotation of the container carrier 22

1. A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beveragebottles with liquid beverage material, said method comprising the stepsof: operating a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least arotary beverage bottle filling machine and a rotary beverage bottleclosing machine; conveying beverage bottles to be filled to saidbeverage bottle filling machine; filling beverage bottles with liquidbeverage material with said beverage bottle filling machine; saidbeverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatablevertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said verticalmachine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said verticalmachine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements forfilling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed onthe periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottlefilling elements comprising a container carrier being configured anddisposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of saidplurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured anddisposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles tobe filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold asupply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line beingconfigured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir tosaid beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage materialto said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structurebeing configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle filling machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beveragebottle filling machine; conveying filled beverage bottles from saidbeverage bottle filling machine to said beverage bottle closing machine;closing tops of filled beverage bottles with said beverage bottleclosing machine; said beverage bottle closing machine comprising: arotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connectedto said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor aboutsaid vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices beingdisposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality ofclosing devices being configured and disposed to place closures onfilled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devicescomprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receiveand hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle closing machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out ofsaid beverage bottle closing machine; operating an information-addingstation being configured to add information onto curved outer surfacesof beverage bottles, which curved outer surfaces comprise radii ofcurvature tolerances of containers tolerances that are less than aboutseven-tenths of a millimeter but which are substantially greater thanzero millimeters, and which information-adding station is configured tocompensate for curvature variances, surface roughness, and/or unevennessof beverage bottles; said information-adding station comprising: aninlet star being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles intosaid information-adding station; a rotor being configured and disposedto convey beverage bottles in said information-adding station; an outletstar being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of saidinformation-adding station; a plurality of information-addingarrangements, each of said plurality of information-adding arrangementsbeing configured and disposed to transfer an image onto a curved outersurface of a beverage bottle; each information-adding arrangementcomprising: a plurality of transfer elements; a transfer rotor beingdisposed adjacent to said rotor of said information-adding station andbeing configured and disposed to rotate said plurality of transferelements; said transfer rotor comprising an outer circumference; saidplurality of transfer elements being disposed adjacent said outercircumference of said transfer rotor; each of said plurality of transferelements being configured and disposed to contact a curved outer surfaceof a beverage bottle, upon said transfer rotor moving each of saidplurality of transfer elements past a beverage bottle; an electronicprinting arrangement being configured and disposed to print informationon each of said plurality of transfer elements; said electronic printingarrangement being configured and disposed to print information on eachof said transfer elements, upon said transfer rotor moving each of saidplurality of transfer elements past said electronic printingarrangement; said electronic printing arrangement being configured anddisposed to print information on a transfer element upon moving thetransfer element past said printing arrangement; said printingarrangement comprising: a preheating and electrostatic-charging unitbeing configured and disposed to preheat and electrostatically chargethe transfer element; a printing unit being configured and disposed toprint across a substantial portion of the width of the transfer element;said printing unit comprising a plurality of electrostatic print heads;each print head of said plurality of print heads comprises at least afirst electrostatic print head, a second electrostatic print head, and athird electrostatic print head, each being configured to print adifferent primary color; each of said print heads having a longitudinalaxis transverse or perpendicular to the feed direction of the pluralityof transfer elements, each of said printing arrangements comprising: ahousing being configured and disposed to hold a supply of printingmedium therein; a plurality of individually-actuatable nozzles for thecontrolled discharge of printing medium; said nozzles being arranged inat least one row, one after another along said print head longitudinalaxis; each of said nozzles comprising an electrode and a correspondingaperture; each of said apertures having a cross-sectional diameterconfigured to produce a surface tension of the printing medium such thatprinting medium does not escape from said housing via said aperturesupon its corresponding electrode being inactive; and each of saidelectrodes being configured to be activated in a pulsed manner todischarge printing medium via its corresponding aperture to produce aprinted dot on the transfer element; each of said plurality of transferelements being configured to be disposed adjacent to said printingarrangement, upon said transfer rotor moving each of said plurality oftransfer elements past said printing arrangement; each of said pluralityof transfer elements being configured and disposed to transferinformation onto a curved outer surface of a beverage bottle, whichinformation comprises an image in a first orientation, upon the image inthe first orientation being printed on said transfer element by saidprinting arrangement; each of said plurality of transfer elements beingconfigured and disposed to transfer an image, in a first orientation,onto a curved outer surface of a beverage bottle, such that the image inthe first orientation is transferred to the beverage bottle in a secondorientation, which second orientation is a positive reversal of thefirst orientation; each of said plurality of transfer elementscomprising: a first layer being configured and disposed to accept animage from said print head; said first layer being configured anddisposed to contact curved outer surfaces of beverage bottles; saidfirst layer being configured and disposed to compensate for curvaturevariances, surface roughness, and/or unevenness, and radii of curvaturetolerances of beverage bottles, which radii of curvature tolerances areless than about seven-tenths of a millimeter but which are substantiallygreater than zero millimeters; a second layer being disposed adjacentsaid first layer; said second layer being configured and disposed tocompensate for curvature variances, surface roughness, and/orunevenness, and radii of curvature tolerances of beverage bottles, whichradii curvature tolerances are less than about seven-tenths of amillimeter but which are substantially greater than zero millimeters;said second layer comprising one of: a rubber and an elastomeric plasticmaterial; a third layer being disposed between said second layer andsaid outer circumference of said transfer rotor; said third layercomprising one of: a metallic material and a plastic material; each ofsaid plurality of transfer elements being configured and disposed to besufficiently resilient to compensate for curvature variances, surfaceroughness, and/or unevenness, and radii of curvature tolerances ofbeverage bottles; a cleaning station being configured and disposed toclean residual printing medium from each of said plurality of transferelements; said cleaning station comprising at least one scraper, whichat least one scraper is configured and disposed to contact each of saidplurality of transfer elements to remove residual printing medium fromthe surface of each of said plurality of transfer elements upon moving atransfer element past said cleaning station; and a drying device beingconfigured and disposed to dry added information onto curved outersurfaces of beverage bottles; moving beverage bottles into saidinformation-adding station with said inlet star; conveying beveragebottles in said information-adding station with said rotor; movingbeverage bottles out of said information-adding station with said outletstar; transferring an image onto a curved outer surface of a beveragebottle with each of said plurality of information-adding arrangements;rotating said plurality of transfer elements with said transfer rotor;contacting a curved outer surface of a beverage bottle with each of saidplurality of transfer elements, upon said transfer rotor moving each ofsaid plurality of transfer elements past a beverage bottle; printinginformation on each of said transfer elements with said electronicprinting arrangement, upon said transfer rotor moving each of saidplurality of transfer elements past said electronic printingarrangement; activating each of said electrodes in a pulsed manner todischarge printing medium via its corresponding aperture to produce aprinted dot on the transfer element; transferring information onto acurved outer surface of a beverage bottle, which information comprisesan image in a first orientation, upon the image in the first orientationbeing printed on said transfer element by said printing arrangement;transferring an image, in a first orientation, onto a curved outersurface of a beverage bottle, such that the image in the firstorientation is transferred to the beverage bottle in a secondorientation, which second orientation is a positive reversal of thefirst orientation, with each of said plurality of transfer elements;compensating for curvature variances, surface roughness, and/orunevenness, and radii of curvature tolerances of beverage bottles, whichradii of curvature tolerances are less than about seven-tenths of amillimeter but which are substantially greater than zero millimeters,with said second layer; cleaning residual printing medium from each ofsaid plurality of transfer elements, with said cleaning station;contacting each of said plurality of transfer elements, with said atleast one scraper, to remove residual printing medium from the surfaceof each of said plurality of transfer elements, upon moving a transferelement past said cleaning station; and drying added information ontocurved outer surfaces of beverage bottles, with said drying device. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein one of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv),(v), (vi), (vii), and (viii): (i) at least one of said first layer andsaid second layer comprises a plurality of coats of layer material; (ii)at least one of said first layer and said second layer comprises aplurality of coats of layer material; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises a plurality of beverage bottlecarriers, which each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers isconfigured to carry a beverage bottle; (iii) at least one of said firstlayer and said second layer comprises a plurality of coats of layermaterial; said rotor of said information-adding station comprises aplurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises controlled movementapparatus for each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; andsaid controlled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; (iv) at least one of said first layer and said secondlayer comprises a plurality of coats of layer material; said rotor ofsaid information-adding station comprises a plurality of beverage bottlecarriers, which each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers isconfigured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatus foreach of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and said controlledmovement apparatus being configured to move each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of said beverage bottlecarriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to said transfer element;the path of controlled movement of each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is substantially parallel to the movement of each ofsaid transfer elements, upon each of said plurality of beverage bottlecarriers being adjacent to each of said transfer elements; (v) at leastone of said first layer and said second layer comprises a plurality ofcoats of layer material; said rotor of said information-adding stationcomprises a plurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beveragebottle; said rotor of said information-adding station comprisescontrolled movement apparatus for each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers; and said controlled movement apparatus being configuredto move each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers, at leastupon each of said beverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottleadjacent to said transfer element; the path of controlled movement ofeach of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantiallyparallel to the movement of each of said transfer elements, upon each ofsaid plurality of beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each ofsaid transfer elements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of eachof said transfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said firstlayer of each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; (vi) at least one of said first layer and said second layercomprises a plurality of coats of layer material; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises a plurality of beverage bottlecarriers, which each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers isconfigured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatus foreach of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and said controlledmovement apparatus being configured to move each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of said beverage bottlecarriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to said transfer element;the path of controlled movement of each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is substantially parallel to the movement of each ofsaid transfer elements, upon each of said plurality of beverage bottlecarriers being adjacent to each of said transfer elements; one of (E)and (F): (E) said first layer of each of said transfer elementscomprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a substantially planar surface; informationadded to each of said transfer elements by said printing unit comprisesa negative or inverse image of the information; (vii) at least one ofsaid first layer and said second layer comprises a plurality of coats oflayer material; said rotor of said information-adding station comprisesa plurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises controlled movementapparatus for each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; andsaid controlled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; information added to each of said transfer elements by saidprinting unit comprises a negative or inverse image of the information;said cleaning station is disposed adjacent to the path of movement ofsaid transfer rotor and each of said transfer elements; said cleaningstation is disposed upstream in relation to said information-addingdevice, relative to the direction of movement of said transfer rotor;and (viii) at least one of said first layer and said second layercomprises a plurality of coats of layer material; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises a plurality of beverage bottlecarriers, which each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers isconfigured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatus foreach of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and said controlledmovement apparatus being configured to move each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of said beverage bottlecarriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to said transfer element;the path of controlled movement of each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is substantially parallel to the movement of each ofsaid transfer elements, upon each of said plurality of beverage bottlecarriers being adjacent to each of said transfer elements; one of (E)and (F): (E) said first layer of each of said transfer elementscomprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a substantially planar surface; informationadded to each of said transfer elements by said printing unit comprisesa negative or inverse image of the information; said cleaning station isdisposed adjacent to the path of movement of said transfer rotor andeach of said transfer elements; said cleaning station is disposedupstream in relation to said information-adding device, relative to thedirection of movement of said transfer rotor; and said plurality of saidtransfer elements is disposed on said transfer rotor.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said first layer and saidsecond layer comprises a plurality of coats of layer material; saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises a plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor ofsaid information-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatusfor each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and saidcontrolled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; information added to each of said transfer elements by saidprinting unit comprises a negative or inverse image of the information;said cleaning station is disposed adjacent to the path of movement ofsaid transfer rotor and each of said transfer elements; said cleaningstation is disposed upstream in relation to said information-addingdevice, relative to the direction of movement of said transfer rotor;and said plurality of said transfer elements is disposed on saidtransfer rotor.
 4. A beverage bottling plant for filling beveragebottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plantcomprising: a plurality of rotary machines comprising at least a rotarybeverage bottle filling machine and a rotary beverage bottle closingmachine; a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed toconvey beverage bottles to be filled to said beverage bottle fillingmachine; said beverage bottle filling machine being configured anddisposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; saidbeverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatablevertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said verticalmachine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said verticalmachine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements forfilling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed onthe periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottlefilling elements comprising a container carrier being configured anddisposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of saidplurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured anddisposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles tobe filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold asupply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line beingconfigured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir tosaid beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage materialto said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structurebeing configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle filling machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beveragebottle filling machine; a second conveyor arrangement being configuredand disposed to convey filled beverage bottles from said beverage bottlefilling machine to said beverage bottle closing machine; said beveragebottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops offilled beverage bottles; said beverage bottle closing machinecomprising: a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotorbeing connected to said vertical machine column to permit rotation ofsaid rotor about said vertical machine column; a plurality of closingdevices being disposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of saidplurality of closing devices being configured and disposed to placeclosures on filled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closingdevices comprising a container carrier being configured and disposed toreceive and hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structurebeing configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle closing machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out ofsaid beverage bottle closing machine; an information-adding stationbeing configured to add information onto curved outer surfaces ofbeverage bottles, which curved outer surfaces comprise radii ofcurvature tolerances that are less than about seven-tenths of amillimeter but which are substantially greater than zero millimeters,and which information-adding station is configured to compensate forcurvature variances, surface roughness, and/or unevenness of beveragebottles; said information-adding station comprising: an inlet star beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles into saidinformation-adding station; a rotor being configured and disposed toconvey beverage bottles in said information-adding station; an outletstar being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of saidinformation-adding station; a plurality of information-addingarrangements, each of said plurality of information-adding arrangementsbeing configured and disposed to transfer an image onto a curved outersurface of a beverage bottle; each information-adding arrangementcomprising: a plurality of transfer elements; a transfer rotor beingdisposed adjacent to said rotor of said information-adding station andbeing configured and disposed to rotate said plurality of transferelements; said transfer rotor comprising an outer circumference; saidplurality of transfer elements being disposed adjacent said outercircumference of said transfer rotor; each of said plurality of transferelements being configured and disposed to contact a curved outer surfaceof a beverage bottle, upon said transfer rotor moving each of saidplurality of transfer elements past a beverage bottle; an electronicprinting arrangement being configured and disposed to print informationon each of said plurality of transfer elements; said electronic printingarrangement being configured and disposed to print information on eachof said transfer elements, upon said transfer rotor moving each of saidplurality of transfer elements past said electronic printingarrangement; said electronic printing arrangement being configured anddisposed to print information on a transfer element upon moving thetransfer element past said printing arrangement; said printingarrangement comprising: a preheating and electrostatic-charging unitbeing configured and disposed to preheat and electrostatically chargethe transfer element; a printing unit being configured and disposed toprint across a substantial portion of the width of the transfer element;said printing unit comprising a plurality of electrostatic print heads;each print head of said plurality of print heads comprises at least afirst electrostatic print head, a second electrostatic print head, and athird electrostatic print head, each being configured to print adifferent primary color; each of said print heads having a longitudinalaxis transverse or perpendicular to the feed direction of the pluralityof transfer elements, each of said printing arrangements comprising: ahousing being configured and disposed to hold a supply of printingmedium therein; a plurality of individually-actuatable nozzles for thecontrolled discharge of printing medium; said nozzles being arranged inat least one row, one after another along said print head longitudinalaxis; each of said nozzles comprising an electrode and a correspondingaperture; each of said apertures having a cross-sectional diameterconfigured to produce a surface tension of the printing medium such thatprinting medium does not escape from said housing via said aperturesupon its corresponding electrode being inactive; and each of saidelectrodes being configured to be activated in a pulsed manner todischarge printing medium via its corresponding aperture to produce aprinted dot on the transfer element; each of said plurality of transferelements being configured to be disposed adjacent to said printingarrangement, upon said transfer rotor moving each of said plurality oftransfer elements past said printing arrangement; each of said pluralityof transfer elements being configured and disposed to transferinformation onto a curved outer surface of a beverage bottle, whichinformation comprises an image in a first orientation, upon the image inthe first orientation being printed on said transfer element by saidprinting arrangement; each of said plurality of transfer elements beingconfigured and disposed to transfer an image, in a first orientation,onto a curved outer surface of a beverage bottle, such that the image inthe first orientation is transferred to the beverage bottle in a secondorientation, which second orientation is a positive reversal of thefirst orientation; each of said plurality of transfer elementscomprising: a first layer being configured and disposed to accept animage from said print head; said first layer being configured anddisposed to contact curved outer surfaces of beverage bottles; saidfirst layer being configured and disposed to compensate for curvaturevariances, surface roughness, and/or unevenness, and radii of curvaturetolerances of beverage bottles, which radii of curvature tolerances areless than about seven-tenths of a millimeter but which are substantiallygreater than zero millimeters; a second layer being disposed adjacentsaid first layer; said second layer being configured and disposed tocompensate for curvature variances, surface roughness, and/orunevenness, and radii of curvature tolerances of beverage bottles, whichradii of curvature tolerances are less than about seven-tenths of amillimeter but which are substantially greater than zero millimeters;said second layer comprising one of: a rubber and an elastomeric plasticmaterial; a third layer being disposed between said second layer andsaid outer circumference of said transfer rotor; said third layercomprising one of: a metallic material and a plastic material; each ofsaid plurality of transfer elements being configured and disposed to besufficiently resilient to compensate for curvature variances, surfaceroughness, and/or unevenness, and radii of curvature tolerances ofbeverage bottles; a cleaning station being configured and disposed toclean residual printing medium from each of said plurality of transferelements; said cleaning station comprising at least one scraper, whichat least one scraper is configured and disposed to contact each of saidplurality of transfer elements to remove residual printing medium fromthe surface of each of said plurality of transfer elements upon moving atransfer element past said cleaning station; and a drying device beingconfigured and disposed to dry added information onto curved outersurfaces of beverage bottles.
 5. The beverage bottling plant accordingto claim 4, wherein at least one of said first layer and said secondlayer comprises a plurality of coats of layer material.
 6. The beveragebottling plant according to claim 5, wherein one of (i), (ii), (iii),(iv), (v), (vi), and (vii): (i) said rotor of said information-addingstation comprises a plurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each ofsaid plurality of beverage bottle carriers is configured to carry abeverage bottle; (ii) said rotor of said information-adding stationcomprises a plurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beveragebottle; said rotor of said information-adding station comprisescontrolled movement apparatus for each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers; and said controlled movement apparatus being configuredto move each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers, at leastupon each of said beverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottleadjacent to said transfer element; (iii) said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises a plurality of beverage bottlecarriers, which each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers isconfigured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor of saidinformation-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatus foreach of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and said controlledmovement apparatus being configured to move each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of said beverage bottlecarriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to said transfer element;the path of controlled movement of each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is substantially parallel to the movement of each ofsaid transfer elements, upon each of said plurality of beverage bottlecarriers being adjacent to each of said transfer elements; (iv) saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises a plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor ofsaid information-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatusfor each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and saidcontrolled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; (v) said rotor of said information-adding station comprises aplurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises controlled movementapparatus for each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; andsaid controlled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; information added to each of said transfer elements by saidprinting unit comprises a negative or inverse image of the information;(vi) said rotor of said information-adding station comprises a pluralityof beverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality of beveragebottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; said rotor ofsaid information-adding station comprises controlled movement apparatusfor each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; and saidcontrolled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; information added to each of said transfer elements by saidprinting unit comprises a negative or inverse image of the information;said cleaning station is disposed adjacent to the path of movement ofsaid transfer rotor and each of said transfer elements; said cleaningstation is disposed upstream in relation to said information-addingdevice, relative to the direction of movement of said transfer rotor;and (vii) said rotor of said information-adding station comprises aplurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises controlled movementapparatus for each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; andsaid controlled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; information added to each of said transfer elements by saidprinting unit comprises a negative or inverse image of the information;said cleaning station is disposed adjacent to the path of movement ofsaid transfer rotor and each of said transfer elements; said cleaningstation is disposed upstream in relation to said information-addingdevice, relative to the direction of movement of said transfer rotor;and said plurality of said transfer elements is disposed on saidtransfer rotor.
 7. The beverage bottling plant according to claim 5,wherein: said rotor of said information-adding station comprises aplurality of beverage bottle carriers, which each of said plurality ofbeverage bottle carriers is configured to carry a beverage bottle; saidrotor of said information-adding station comprises controlled movementapparatus for each of said plurality of beverage bottle carriers; andsaid controlled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers, at least upon each of saidbeverage bottle carriers carrying a beverage bottle adjacent to saidtransfer element; the path of controlled movement of each of saidplurality of beverage bottle carriers is substantially parallel to themovement of each of said transfer elements, upon each of said pluralityof beverage bottle carriers being adjacent to each of said transferelements; one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each of saidtransfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said first layerof each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface; information added to each of said transfer elements by saidprinting unit comprises a negative or inverse image of the information;said cleaning station is disposed adjacent to the path of movement ofsaid transfer rotor and each of said transfer elements; said cleaningstation is disposed upstream in relation to said information-addingdevice, relative to the direction of movement of said transfer rotor;and said plurality of said transfer elements is disposed on saidtransfer rotor.
 8. A container filling plant for filling containers witha filling material, in combination with an information-adding stationwhich information-adding station is configured to add information ontocontainers; said container filling plant comprising: a filling machinebeing configured and disposed to fill empty containers with a fillingmaterial; a first moving arrangement being configured and disposed tomove containers to said filling machine; said filling machinecomprising: a moving device being configured and disposed to acceptcontainers from said first moving arrangement and to move containerswithin said filling machine; an apparatus being configured and disposedto hold containers during filling; and at least one filling device beingconfigured and disposed to fill containers with a filling material uponthe containers being within said filling machine; a closing machinebeing configured and disposed to close filled containers; a secondmoving arrangement being configured and disposed to accept filledcontainers from said moving device of said filling machine to movefilled containers from said filling machine to said closing machine;said closing machine comprising: a device being configured and disposedto accept filled containers from said second moving arrangement and tomove filled containers within said closing machine; an apparatus beingconfigured and disposed to hold filled containers during closing; and atleast one closing device being configured and disposed to close filledcontainers upon the filled containers being within said closing machine;said information-adding station being configured to add information ontocurved outer surfaces of containers, which curved outer surfacescomprise radii of curvature tolerances, and which information-addingstation is configured to compensate for radii of curvature variances,surface roughness, and/or unevenness of curved outer surfaces ofcontainers being processed; said information-adding station comprising:an inlet arrangement being configured and disposed to move containersinto said information-adding station; a conveyor arrangement beingconfigured and disposed to convey containers in said information-addingstation; an outlet arrangement being configured and disposed to movecontainers out of said information-adding station; a plurality ofinformation-adding arrangements, each of said plurality ofinformation-adding arrangements being configured and disposed totransfer information onto a curved outer surface of a container; eachinformation-adding arrangement comprising: a plurality of transferelements; a transfer arrangement being disposed adjacent to saidconveyor arrangement of said information-adding station and beingconfigured and disposed to move said plurality of transfer elements;each of said transfer elements being configured and disposed to contacta curved outer surface of a container, upon at least one of saidtransfer arrangement and a container, providing relative movementbetween each said transfer element and its corresponding container; aninformation-adding device being configured and disposed to addinformation onto each of said transfer elements; each of said transferelements being configured to be disposed adjacent to saidinformation-adding device, upon said transfer arrangement moving each ofsaid plurality of transfer elements past said information-adding device;each of said transfer elements being configured and disposed to transferinformation onto a curved outer surface of a container; each of saidtransfer elements being configured and disposed to transfer information,in a first orientation, onto a curved outer surface of a container, suchthat the information in the first orientation is transferred onto thecontainer in a second orientation, which second orientation is differentfrom the first orientation; each of said plurality of transfer elementsbeing configured and disposed to be sufficiently resilient to compensatefor radii of curvature variances, surface roughness, and/or unevenness,and radii of curvature tolerances of containers, to maximize accuracy ofinformation added onto a container, upon said transfer elementtransferring information onto a container; and a controller to controlsaid information-adding station and its components.
 9. The containerfilling plant according to claim 8, wherein: each said transfer elementcomprises a first layer and a second layer; each said first layercomprising a surface configured to accept an information-adding medium;said second layer being configured to support said first layer; saidsecond layer having a resiliency to compensate for radii of curvaturevariances, surface roughness, and/or unevenness, and radii of curvaturetolerances of containers; and said first layer being sufficientlyflexible to conform to changes of thickness due to the resiliency ofsaid second layer during application of information-adding medium onto acontainer.
 10. The container filling plant according to claim 9,wherein: each said transfer element comprises a third layer; said thirdlayer being substantially nonresilient; said third layer beingconfigured to contact and to support said second layer; said third layerbeing disposed between said second layer and the outer surface of saidtransfer arrangement; and said third layer being disposed to connectsaid second layer to the outer surface of said transfer arrangement. 11.The container filling plant according to claim 10, wherein at least oneof said first layer and said second layer, comprises a plurality ofcoats of layer material.
 12. The container filling plant according toclaim 11, including one of (A) and (B): (A) said transfer arrangementcomprising an arrangement configured to rotate a container about itslongitudinal axis; said transfer arrangement comprising a transfer drumwhich transfer drum is configured to be driven about the axis of saidtransfer drum; the drum axis being disposed substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis of a container; and (B) said transfer arrangementcomprising one of: band-like, belt-like, or chain-like transport elementforming a closed loop.
 13. The container filling plant according toclaim 12, including one of (C) and (D): (C) said transfer arrangementcomprising an arrangement configured to rotate a container about itslongitudinal axis; said transfer arrangement comprising a transfer drumwhich transfer drum is configured to be driven about the axis of saidtransfer drum; the drum axis being disposed substantially parallel to anlongitudinal axis of a container; and said conveyor arrangement of saidinformation-adding station comprising a rotor that rotates about asubstantially vertical axis; and (D) said transfer arrangementcomprising one of: band-like, belt-like, or chain-like transport elementforming a closed loop; and said conveyor arrangement comprising a linearconveyor.
 14. The container filling plant according to claim 13, whereinsaid conveyor arrangement of said information-adding station comprises aplurality of container carriers at the conveyor arrangement, which eachcontainer carrier is configured to carry one container.
 15. Thecontainer filling plant according to claim 14, wherein: said conveyorarrangement of said information-adding station comprises controlledmovement apparatus for each of said container carriers; and saidcontrolled movement apparatus being configured to move each of saidcontainer carriers, at least upon each of said container carrierscarrying a container adjacent to said transfer element.
 16. Thecontainer filling plant according to claim 15, wherein the path ofcontrolled movement of each of said container carriers is parallel orsubstantially parallel to the movement of each of said transferelements, upon each of said container carriers being adjacent to each ofsaid transfer elements.
 17. The container filling plant according toclaim 16, wherein one of (E) and (F): (E) said first layer of each ofsaid transfer elements comprises a curved surface; and (F) said firstlayer of each of said transfer elements comprises a substantially planarsurface.
 18. The container filling plant according to claim 17, whereininformation added to each of said transfer elements by saidinformation-adding devices comprises a negative or inverse image of theinformation.
 19. The container filling plant according to claim 18,including at least one cleaning station is configured and disposed toclean residual printing medium from each of said transfer elements; saidcleaning station being disposed adjacent to the path of movement of saidtransfer arrangement and each of said transfer elements; and saidcleaning station being disposed upstream in relation to saidinformation-adding device, relative to the direction of movement of saidtransfer arrangement.
 20. The container filling plant according to claim19, wherein a plurality of said transfer elements are disposed on saidtransfer arrangement.